Violence at parties puts three in hospital

St John and police staff help a man injured in the Waimumu Rd fracas. Picture / Bradley Ambrose

A young man was almost bashed to death, another was so badly injured he ended up on life support and a policeman was knocked unconscious in weekend attacks.

St John Ambulance officers spent 45 minutes treating a 20-year-old man who suffered extensive skull fractures during an assault with a weapon at a party in Massey, Waitakere City, just after midnight yesterday.

He was in a serious but stable condition in hospital early today.

Ambulance staff called for police help to reach the victim through people brawling in Waimumu Rd.

A police spokesman said a large number of youths were drinking, fighting, damaging cars and throwing bottles. It was estimated 50 or more people were involved in large-scale fighting on the street.

Police are still searching for the weapon used on the 20-year-old and speaking to witnesses.

Four men were arrested on charges of assault and disorderly behaviour.

In a separate incident, a police officer required several stitches to a severe gash in his forehead after being struck by a bottle on Saturday night.

The officer, who had been in the job two years but was not identified, was knocked out by the blow as police tried to close down a party involving more than 100 youths in Cliff View Drive, Green Bay.

Police were called by neighbours concerned about the large number of youths partying and drinking at an address there.

A group of 30 youths swelled to more than 100 as police moved in to shut down the party, a police spokesman said.

The policeman was taken to hospital for treatment but was later discharged and was yesterday recovering at home. A spokesman said the officer would be off work for several days.

Three people were arrested but the bottle-thrower was not among them.

West Auckland police said the large-scale parties they dealt with were not commonplace.

A 23-year-old who suffered an apparent heart attack during a brawl outside an Auckland bar was in a serious but stable condition early today. He was no longer on life support.

Police are appealing to any witnesses who may have filmed the fight or taken photos on their mobile phones.

The man was critically injured during a clash involving 10 people outside the Supper Club in Beresford St, near Karangahape Rd in the central city, at 8.15am on Saturday.

He was among a group of people who left the 24-hour bar at the same time as another group, and a verbal exchange outside escalated into a fight.

The man was thrown to the ground and a knee was placed on his chest.

He was found unconscious by police and had to be revived by ambulance staff.

Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Beard said some patrons at the bar were seen holding up mobile phones and pointing them in the direction of the fight scene.

"Anybody who was there who took some photos or video on their cellphones, we would appreciate it if they contacted us."

Four people were arrested for fighting and disorder but police are still piecing together the circumstances around the assault on the 23-year-old.